Exercise footwear that simulates uphill or downhill exercises

ABSTRACT

The present invention is a piece of exercise footwear that simulates an uphill exercise or a downhill exercise that includes a continuous curved flat or concave sole with a front portion and a back portion that can be in continuous contact or not with an exercising surface while a user is exercising on an exercising surface and an inflatably adjustable bladder assembly with an inflatable sole portion and an inflatable heel portion. The exercise footwear also includes a control valve to allow inflation of the inflatable sole portion and the inflatable heel portion to allow a supplemental uphill or downhill simulation while performing the exercises and a transfer valve that transfers pressure and fluid interchangeably between the inflatable heel portion and the inflatable sole portion. A front pad insert and a heel pad insert can also be utilized and the inflatable adjustable bladder assembly can also be removed.

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application 61/294,805 filed on Jan. 13, 2010 and U.S. Provisional Application 61/297,258 filed on Jan. 21, 2010 the entire disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD & BACKGROUND

The present invention generally relates to exercise footwear. More specifically the invention is a piece of exercise footwear that simulates uphill or downhill exercises. The invention can be a piece of exercise footwear or be an accessory inserted into or onto an existing piece of exercise footwear.

It is an object of the invention to provide a piece of exercise footwear that can adjustably simulate exercising on a flat surface, an uphill surface or a downhill surface.

It is an object of the invention to provide a piece of exercise footwear that improves muscle strengthening, endurance, balance, torque, general well-being, cardiovascular conditioning and training for a wide variety of sports.

It is an object of the invention to provide a piece of exercise equipment that helps reduce back pain and be used for the treatment of plantar facitis.

It is an object of the invention to provide an accessory for a piece of exercise footwear that simulates uphill or downhill exercises.

It is an object of the invention to provide a method for using a piece of exercise footwear or an accessory for a piece of exercise footwear that simulates uphill or downhill exercises.

What is really needed is a piece of exercise footwear that can adjustably simulate exercising on a flat surface, an uphill surface or a downhill surface, that improves muscle strengthening, endurance, balance, torque, general well-being, cardiovascular conditioning and training for a wide variety of sports, that helps reduce back pain and be used for the treatment of plantar facitis, that also provides an accessory for a piece of exercise footwear that simulates uphill or downhill exercises.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described by way of exemplary embodiments, but not limitations, illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which like references denote similar elements, and in which

FIG. 1A illustrates a side perspective view of a piece of exercise footwear that simulates an uphill exercise, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1B illustrates a side perspective view of a piece of exercise footwear that simulates a downhill exercise, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1C illustrates a side perspective view a piece of exercise footwear that simulates an uphill exercise without an inflatably adjustable bladder assembly, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1D illustrates a side perspective view of a piece of exercise footwear that simulates a downhill exercise with a flat sole, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1E illustrates a side perspective view of a piece of exercise footwear that simulates a downhill exercise with a flat sole, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 1F illustrates a side perspective view of accessories for a piece of exercise footwear that simulates a downhill exercise, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Various aspects of the illustrative embodiments will be described using terms commonly employed by those skilled in the art to convey the substance of their work to others skilled in the art. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced with only some of the described aspects. For purposes of explanation, specific numbers, materials and configurations are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the illustrative embodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without the specific details. In other instances, well-known features are omitted or simplified in order not to obscure the illustrative embodiments.

Various operations will be described as multiple discrete operations, in turn, in a manner that is most helpful in understanding the present invention. However, the order of description should not be construed as to imply that these operations are necessarily order dependent. In particular, these operations need not be performed in the order of presentation.

The phrase “in one embodiment” is used repeatedly. The phrase generally does not refer to the same embodiment, however, it may. The terms “comprising”, “having” and “including” are synonymous, unless the context dictates otherwise.

FIG. 1A illustrates a side perspective view of a piece of exercise footwear 100 that simulates an uphill exercise, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The piece of exercise footwear 100 has a continuous curved sole 110, but can also be flat or concave like a normal shoe with a front portion 112 and a back portion 114 that is built-up 120 on the front portion 112 from ⅛ inch to 3 inches in height. The continuous curved flat or concave sole 110 has a first point of contact 130 and a final point of contact 140 with the user that can be either in continuous contact or not with the exercise surface while exercising. The build-up 120 on the front portion 112 simulates for a user the same exercise that the user would get while exercising going up a hill. The simulated exercising can be walking, jogging, running or any other type of sport-related activity the user is performing while wearing the exercise footwear 100. The degree of angle of the continuous flat or concave curved sole 110 formed from the build-up 120 on the front portion 112 will determine the amount of exercise or amount of uphill effect a user will receive from wearing the exercise footwear 100. The continuous curved flat or concave sole 110 can also be attached to an existing piece of exercise footwear 100 by any suitable means such as straps, hook and loop fasteners such as Velcro™, magnets, staples, suction cups, screws or nails.

The exercise footwear 100 can also utilize an inflatably adjustable bladder assembly 150 to supplement the build-up 120 on the front portion 112 to simulate uphill, downhill as well as flat surface exercising. The exercise footwear 100 allows exercise that conditions either uphill or downhill muscle and body components while walking on a relatively flat surface. The inflatably adjustable bladder assembly 150 has an inflatable sole portion 152 and an inflatable heel portion 154. The inflatably adjustable bladder assembly 150 can be adjusted by a control valve 160 allowing inflation of either the inflatable sole portion 152 or the inflatable heel portion 154 in vertical dimension so as to allow uphill or downhill simulation while walking. The exercise effect from the simulation of the inflatably adjustable bladder assembly 150 is concurrent with the effect from the simulation of the continuous curved flat or concave sole 110 and its front portion build-up 120, which is not adjustable. The inflatably adjustable bladder assembly 150 can also be removed from the exercise footwear 100 as well. The inflatably adjustable bladder assembly 150 is vertically adjustable by external fluid injection through the control valve 160 or by an internal transfer of fluid from a heel portion bladder 170 to a sole portion bladder 172 or from the sole portion bladder 172 to the heel portion bladder 170 utilizing a transfer valve 180. The transfer valve 180 is opened internally and with pressure on either the sole portion bladder 172 or the heel portion bladder 170, fluid is transferred and the transfer valve 180 can then be closed internally as well. The exercise footwear 100 can be a boot, an ordinary shoe or any type of sneaker, cleated shoe or athletic shoe made of any suitable material. The continuous curved flat or concave sole 110 can also be made of any suitable material.

FIG. 1B illustrates a side perspective view of a piece of exercise footwear 100 that simulates a downhill exercise, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The piece of exercise footwear 100 also has a continuous curved flat or concave sole 110 with a front portion 112 and a back portion 114, but is instead built-up 190 in the back portion 114 from ⅛ inch to 3 inches. The curved sole 110 has a first point of contact 130 and a final point of contact 140 with the user that can be either in continuous contact or not with the exercise surface while exercising. The build-up 190 on the back portion 114 simulates for a user the same exercise that the user would get while exercising going down a hill. The simulated exercising can be walking, jogging, running or any other type of sport-related activity the user is performing while wearing the exercise footwear 100. The degree of angle of the continuous curved flat or concave sole 100 formed from the build-up 190 on the back portion 114 will determine the amount of exercise or amount of downhill effect a user will receive from wearing the exercise footwear 100. The exercise footwear 100 utilizes an inflatably adjustable bladder assembly 150 to supplement the build-up 190 on the back portion 114 to simulate uphill, downhill as well as flat surface exercising, as previously described in the FIG. 1A description. The exercise footwear 100 can be a boot, an ordinary shoe or any type of sneaker, cleated shoe or athletic shoe made of any suitable material. The continuous curved flat or concave sole 110 can also be made of any suitable material and can also be attached to an existing piece of exercise footwear 100 by any suitable means such as straps, hook and loop fasteners such as Velcro™, magnets, staples, suction cups, screws or nails.

FIG. 1C illustrates a side perspective view a piece of exercise footwear 100 that simulates an uphill without an inflatably adjustable bladder assembly 150, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The exercise footwear 100 has all of the same components as the exercise footwear 100 illustrated in FIG. 1A, only without the inflatably adjustable bladder assembly 150 and its related components and features. The components of the exercise footwear 100 present include the continuous curved sole 110 with its front portion 112 and back portion 114, the built-up front 120, the first point of contact 130 and the final point of contact 140.

FIG. 1D illustrates a side perspective view of a piece of exercise footwear 100 that simulates a downhill exercise with a flat sole 116, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The exercise footwear 100 that simulates a downhill exercise with a flat sole 116 has all of the features illustrated and described in FIG. 1B, except the continuous curved sole 110, which is replaced with the flat sole illustrated in FIG. 1E.

FIG. 1E illustrates a side perspective view of a piece of exercise footwear 100 that simulates a downhill exercise with a concave sole 118, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The exercise footwear 100 that simulates a downhill exercise with a concave sole 118 has all of the features illustrated and described in FIG. 1B, except the continuous curved sole 110, which is replaced with the flat sole illustrated in FIG. 1E.

FIG. 1F illustrates a side perspective view of accessories for a piece of exercise footwear 100 that simulates an uphill or a downhill exercise, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The accessories are a front pad insert 192 and a heel pad insert 194. The front pad insert 192 and the heel pad insert 194 can also simulate uphill, downhill as well as flat surface exercising, just as the previously described continuous curved flat or concave sole 110 and the inflatably adjustable bladder assembly 150 does. The front pad insert 192 simulates an uphill exercising effect, just as the built-up front 120 and sole portion bladder 172 does and the heel pad insert 194 simulates a downhill exercising effect, just as the built-up back 190 and inflatable heel portion 154. The front pad insert 192 and the heel pad insert 194 can be used with any previously described embodiment of the exercise footwear 100 illustrated in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C.

Use of the exercise footwear 100 is straightforward. With the exercise footwear 100 securely in place, the user adjusts the desired simulated exercising mode within the exercise footwear 100, which is uphill, downhill or flat surface. In a simulated uphill exercise, the user walks forward and up over the front elevated portion of the exercise footwear 100 before stepping onto the opposite foot and continues forward in this manner. In a simulated downhill exercise, the user walks forward and down over the elevated heel portion of the exercise footwear 100 and continues forward in this manner.

While the present invention has been related in terms of the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention is not limited to the embodiments described. The present invention can be practiced with modification and alteration within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Thus, the description is to be regarded as illustrative instead of restrictive on the present invention. 

1. A piece of exercise footwear that simulates an uphill exercise or a downhill exercise, comprising: a continuous curved sole with a front portion and a back portion that can be in continuous contact or not with an exercise surface while a user is exercising on an exercising surface; an inflatably adjustable bladder assembly with an inflatable sole portion and an inflatable heel portion; a control valve to allow inflation of said inflatable sole portion and said inflatable heel portion to allow a supplemental uphill or downhill simulation while performing said exercises; and a transfer valve that transfers pressure and fluid interchangeably between said inflatable heel portion and said inflatable sole portion.
 2. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein said front portion is built-up between ⅛ inch to 3 inches and produces a simulated uphill exercise effect.
 3. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein said back portion is built-up between ⅛ inch to 3 inches and produces a simulated downhill exercise effect.
 4. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein said continuous curved sole is attached to an existing piece of exercise footwear.
 5. The footwear according to claim 4, wherein said continuous curved sole is attached to said existing exercise footwear with straps, hook and loop fasteners such as Velcro™, magnets, staples, suction cups, screws or nails.
 6. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein said inflatably adjustable bladder assembly can be removed from said exercise footwear.
 7. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein said inflation is by external fluid injection through said control valve.
 8. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein said supplemental uphill or downhill simulation is concurrent with said simulated uphill exercise effect or simulated downhill exercise effect from said continuous curved sole.
 9. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein said transfer valve is opened and closed internally.
 10. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein said exercise footwear can be a boot, an ordinary shoe or any type of sneaker, cleated shoe or athletic shoe used to perform exercises that include walking, jogging, running or any sport-related activity said user is performing while wearing said exercise footwear.
 11. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein said continuous curved sole is flat or concave.
 12. A piece of exercise footwear that simulates an uphill exercise or a downhill exercise, comprising: a continuous curved flat or concave sole with a front portion that is built-up between ⅛ inch to 3 inches and produces a simulated uphill exercise effect or a back portion that is built-up between ⅛ inch to 3 inches and produces a simulated downhill exercise effect, said continuous curved flat or concave sole that can be in continuous contact or not with an exercising surface while a user is exercising on said exercising surface; an inflatably adjustable bladder assembly with an inflatable sole portion and an inflatable heel portion; a control valve to allow inflation by external fluid injection through said control valve of said inflatable sole portion and said inflatable heel portion to allow a supplemental uphill or downhill simulation while performing said exercises; and a transfer valve that opens and closes internally that transfers pressure and fluid interchangeably between said inflatable sole portion and said inflatable heel portion.
 13. The footwear according to claim 12, wherein said continuous curved flat or concave sole is attached to an existing piece of exercise footwear.
 14. The footwear according to claim 13, wherein said continuous curved flat or concave sole is attached to said existing exercise footwear with straps, hook and loop fasteners such as Velcro™, magnets, staples, suction cups, screws or nails.
 15. The footwear according to claim 12, wherein said inflatably adjustable bladder assembly can be removed from said exercise footwear.
 16. The footwear according to claim 12, wherein said supplemental uphill or downhill simulation is concurrent with said simulated uphill exercise effect or simulated downhill exercise effect from said continuous curved flat or concave sole.
 17. The footwear according to claim 12, wherein said exercise footwear can be a boot, an ordinary shoe or any type of sneaker, cleated shoe or athletic shoe.
 18. The footwear according to claim 12, wherein said exercises are walking, jogging, running or any sport-related activity said user is performing while wearing said exercise footwear.
 19. A plurality of accessories used in combination with a piece of exercise footwear that simulates an uphill exercise or a downhill exercise, comprising: a front pad insert that has a wedge shaped to simulate said uphill exercise that produces an uphill exercising effect; and a heel pad insert that has a wedge shaped to simulate said downhill exercise that produces a downhill exercising effect.
 20. The accessories according to claim 19, wherein said exercise footwear can be a boot, an ordinary shoe or any type of sneaker, cleated shoe or athletic shoe and said exercises are walking, jogging, running or any sport-related activity a user is performing while wearing said exercise footwear. 